Suction cleaner construction



Nov. 14, 1939. F MARTINET SUCTION CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1939- E. F MARTINET 2,179,665

SUCTION CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Eugene F. Martinet, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135,005

16 Claims.

The invention relates in general to suction cleaning apparatus and more particularly to improved means arranged in suction cleaning apparatus for blowing pulverized purifying or fumigating material onto articles of furniture and the like.

In certain prior suction cleaner constructions a chamber containing purifying and deodorizing crystals has been provided communicating with air currents passing through the apparatus, whereby the vapor from said crystals is mingled with the air being discharged from the apparatus. However, such vapor is not effective or sufficient where it is desired to destroy moths, insects and the like, or to treat furniture to prevent the existence of moths and insects therein.

In other prior constructions, purifying or fumigating crystals have been introduced into the fan chamber of the suction cleaner for being pulverized and blown out, but such an arrangement is possible only in a cleaner where the-dust collecting bag is connected to the exhaust outlet of the cleaner and is arranged to be detached when the cleaner is used as a blower.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means in a suction cleaner, which may be utilized without detaching the dust collecting bag, for grinding crystals and introducing the ground or pulverized crystals into the air blast of the cleaner for being discharged on and into rugs, upholstered furniture, and household goods including drapes, clothing, closets and cupboards, as well as into woodwork cracks for exterminating insects and the like; and for moth-proofing, disinfecting, purifying and fumigating purposes.

Another object is to provide means for manually controlling the quantity of pulverized crystals being discharged.

Another object is to provide crystal grinding means permanently mounted on the shaft of the motor of the suction cleaner.

A further object is to provide a combined crystal container and discharge nozzle which can be readily attached to the discharge outlet of the cleaner in a few seconds.

A still further object is to provide a combined crystal container and discharge nozzle which, when attached to the discharge outlet of the cleaner, is adapted to cooperate with the crystal grinding means for entraining pulverized crystals in the air blast discharged from said discharge nozzle.

These and other objects are attained by the improvements, elements, combinations and arrangements comprising the present invention, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed. 7

The invention may be stated in general terms as including a suction cleaner construction having an inlet end and an outlet end, a dust collecting receptacle and a motor driven exhaust fan between the inlet and outlet end, crystal grinding means on the motor shaft, and a combined crystal container and discharge nozzle for detachable connection with said outlet end and adapted to cooperate with said grinding means for entraining ground crystals in the air blast being discharged from the outlet end of the cleaner. I

In the drawings forming part hereof,

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a suction cleaning apparatus embodying the present improvements in operation for blowing pulverized material onto an upholstered chair;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the outlet end of the apparatus showing the present improvements;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation looking toward the inner side of the combined crystal container and discharge nozzle when detached, showing the plate forming the inner wall of said container;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view as on line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view as on line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the outlet end of the cleaner with the combined crystal container and nozzle detached therefrom; and

-Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof with the combined crystal container; and nozzle attached thereto. a

Similar numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

The suction cleaning apparatus shown in the drawings is of the so-called tank type, and includes a main unit indicated at 8 having an inlet end 9 and an outlet or exhaust end Ill.

According to usual practice, when the apparatus is being used for suction cleaning a flexible air hose may be detachably connected to the inlet end 9 in a suitable manner, and the air hose is provided with a suction nozzle which is held in contact with the surface being cleaned. As thus used the dirt laden air passes through a dust receptacle in the main unit 8 which separates the dirt therefrom, and the suctional air current is set up by an exhaust fan driven by a motor, both within the main unit, the dirt-freed air being discharged from the outlet end l0.

As shown in Fig. 1 the electrical conductor for supplying current to the motor is indicated at II, and the main unit 8 is mounted on suitable rollers l2 for movably supporting the apparatus, a flexible strap handle l3 being secured to the upper side of the main unit.

When the suction cleaning apparatus is used for blowing pulverized crystals onto articles of furniture and the like, the suction hose is disconnected from the inlet end 9 of the main unit and a flexible hose l4 having a blowing attachment IS on its outer end is detachably connected to the outlet end Ill.

The main unit 8 includes a preferably tubular sheet metal outer housing or shell |6 surrounding the dust receptacle, exhaust unit and motor, and as shown in Fig. 2, the outlet end of said shell may be provided with circumferentially spaced studs I! for being received in slots on an end cap member for making a bayonet connection therewith.

When the apparatus is being used as a suction cleaner, the end cap member may be generally similar in form to the inlet end 9, but when used as in Fig. 1, the end cap member is preferably the improved combined crystal container and discharge nozzle indicated generally at I8, having the annular flange l9 detachably connected to the studs II.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the outlet end ill of the main unit 8 is shown. The housing of the driving motor is indicated at 20 and the projecting end of the motor shaft is shown at 2|. The end portion 2| of the motor shaft may be supported in a bearing bracket 22 which is mounted in the rubber ring 23, and the rubber ring 23 is in turn supported in a spider member 24 secured to the shell i6, as by screws 25.

The electric conductor is connected to a usual socket plug 26 mounted in the shell l8, and lead wires connect the plug to the driving motor for supplying current thereto. A finger actuated switch S may be mounted on shell i6, as indicated in Fig. 6, for operating the motor in a usual man-' ner.

The means for grinding or pulverizing crystals preferably consists of a rotor 21 secured on the projecting end 2| of the motor shaft, and having a series of blades 28 for being rotated by the driving motor. Preferably a substantially frustoconical housing 29 is provided around the rotor 21, with its open side toward the exhaust end of nozzle I8 and having an upwardly open trough T at its closed side formed by side walls 38 and 3| and bottom wall 32 (Fig. 4).

The bottom wall 32 and side walls 30 and 3| are preferably connected to or integral with the bearing bracket 22 for supporting the trough and housing, and the bearing bracket forms the inner end wall of the trough while the closed side wall 33 of the housing 29 forms the opposite end-wall of the trough.

An. axial opening 34' is formed in wall 33 of housing 29 for providing communication around shaft 2| between the trough and the blades 28 of the rotor, and the bottom wall 32 of the trough is downwardly inclined so as to feed material into the housing 29.

The annular flange IQ of the nozzle member I8 is formed into an internal annular groove 36 for receiving a rubber ring 31 which is compressed against end wall 38 of the shell it when the nozzle member I8 is detachably connected thereto.

From the groove 38 the annular wall of the nozzle turns sharply inward toward the shaft 2| to form a conical portion indicated at 38, and then turns outwardly to form a relatively steep substantially conical portion 40 terminating in a tubular end portion indicated at 4|. The particular shape and proportions of the conical portions 39 and 40 form a constricted throat closely adjacent to the rotor housing 29, for a purpose to be described.

r The end portion 4| of the improved nozzle i8 is provided with spaced studs 42 for making a bayonet connection with an annular flange 48 of a connector member 44 in which the hose I4 is swiveled.

The crystal storage container or hopper 45 is preferably formed integrally with the upper side of the nozzle member l8 and is preferably formed on the conical portion 39 thereof. The side walls 45 (Fig. 4) on the container slope downwardly inward to the bottom wall 41, and the bottom wall slopes downwardly to a discharge notch or opening 48, the bottom of which is closely adjacent to the top of trough T. A valve plate is pivotally mounted on the bottom wall 41, by being secured to pin 5|, and is provided with a notch 52. adapted to register with opening 48 for discharging crystals 0 into the trough T as indicated in Fig. 2. A handle 53 may be secured to the pivot pin 5| for opening and closing the opening 48, and for regulating the amount of crystals being introduced into the rotor housing 29, so as to control the amount of pulverized material being blown out of the blowing attachment IS.

The crystals C may be any one of several germicides or disinfectants, as for instance crystalline paradichlorobenzene, which will volatilize in ordinary room temperatures after a short time.

The inner wall of the crystal container 45 may consist of a plate 55 secured to the portion 39 of nozzle l8 by screws 56, and having its lower end abutting the discharge opening 48. The upper portion of the plate 55 is provided with a series of small holes 51 providing communication between the crystal container and the interior of the shell I6, for a purpose to be described.

Preferably a tubular projection 58 is formed on the upper end of the container 45 for receiving a fresh supply of crystals, and a cap 59 is screwed thereon for closing the container compartment. The crystals C may be adapted for use as an insecticide, or for moth-proofing, disinfecting, fumigating, purifying and the like.

In the operation of the improved apparatus for blowing air having entrained pulverized crystals, the air currents induced by the exhaust fan and driving motor pass through the outlet end of the main unit 8 and through the nozzle i8 substantially in paths indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The usual openings 60 in the spider member 24 may be supplemented by a series of circumferentially arranged apertures 6|. As indicated by the arrows, the air currents coming from the exhaust fan pass through the openings 60 and Si and into and through the constricted throat of the nozzle around the rotor housing 29.

By forming the portion 39 and locating the plate 55 closely adjacent to the rear end of the spider and the bearing bracket 22, and by forming the constricted throat of the nozzle closely adjacent to the rotor housing 29 and the top edges of trough walls 38 and 3|, the paths of the air currents rushing past the trough T around holising 29 are more constricted than the opening at the upper end of the trough so that air currents passing through the trough and opening fl aid in feeding the crystals to the bottom of the trough. Moreover, the apertures 51 in plate II admit sumcient air from the interior of the main unit into the hopper 45. so as to exert downward pressure on crystals C as long as the cap 88 is in place.

Since the bottom wall 32 of the trough T slopes downward toward the opening 34, the crystals C will be fed by gravity into the rotor housing 29, aided by the relatively large amount of air passing into the upper open end of the trough and through the openings 3|.

When the motor is operating, the blades 28 are rotated rapidly so that the impact of the blades striking the crystals being fed through opening 34 quickly pulverizes and grinds the crystals. As the pulverized crystals issue from the rotor, they are caught up by the rapidly rushing air currents passing around the rotor housing, and become entrained in the air currents as they issue or discharge out of the nozzle l8 into the base it for being blown out of the attachment 0 By thus blowing the pulverized crystals onto furniture and the like, the cracks and crevices thereof are impregnated to such an extent as to moth-proof or disinfect or fumigate the same. The nature of the pulverized crystals may be such that they will become vaporized and disappear within a relatively short time after being blown onto articles, but will remain in a pulverized form long enough to thoroughly perform their disinfecting or fumigating functions.

The improved discharge nozzle l8 with its crystal container 45 may be readily attached to the outlet end of the suction cleaning apparatus 8 in a few seconds by the most inexperienced person, and the handle 53 may be adjusted to control the amount of crystals fed to the rotor 21, thereby controlling the amount of powdered crystals being blown out of the attachment I5.

The crystal grinding means which includes the rotor 21 is preferably permanently mounted on the projecting end of the motor shaft at the outlet end of the cleaner in such a way that it does not interfere with the cleaning action when the apparatus is used for suction cleaning, but is always ready to function as a crystal grinding means the instant that the improved nozzle and crystal container i8 is attached.

I claim:

1. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a housing having an outlet end, a driving motor in said housing having a motor shaft projecting into said .outlet end, crystal pulverizing means on said motor shaft projection, a trough communicating with said pulverizing means, a discharge nozzle on the outlet end of said housing and closely surrounding said pulverizing means and said trough, and a crystal storage hopperon said nozzle for supplying crystals to said trough.

2. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a housing having an outlet end, a driving motor in said housing having a motor shaft projecting into said outlet end, crystal pulverizing means on said motor shaft projection, a trough communicating with said pulverizing means, and a crystal storage container on the outlet end of said housing having a discharge opening closely adjacent to said trough for discharging crystals into said trough.

3. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a housing having an outlet end, a driving motor in said housing having a motor shaft projecting into said outlet end, crystal pulverizing means on said motor shaft projection, a trough communicating with said pulverizing means, a crystal storage container detachably mounted on the outlet end of said housing and having a discharge opening closely adjacent to said trough for discharging crystals into said trough, and valve means for closing said discharge opening.

4. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an inlet end and an outlet end and a motor between the ends, means for pulverizing crystals operatively connected with said motor and located at said outlet end, a discharge nozzle on said outlet end having a constricted throat clwely surrounding said pulverizing means, and a crystal storage container on said nozzle communicating with said pulverizing means within said throat.

5. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an air discharge outlet, a motor driven rotor having blades located in said discharge outlet, a trough in said outlet communicating axially with said rotor and adapted for feeding crystals to said rotor, and means for feeding crystals into said trough, said rotor blades being adapted for pulverizing ,crystals fed thereto and for delivering the pulverized material into the discharging air.

6. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an air discharge end, a motor driven rotor having blades and located at said discharge end, a housing open at its discharge side and located around said rotor, said housing having an opening through, its closed side axially of the rotor, and means for feeding crystals through said opening to the rotor blades within the housing.

7. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an air discharge end, a motor driven rotor having blades and located at said discharge end, a housing open at its discharge side and located around said rotor, said housing having an opening through its closed side axially of the rotor, a trough open at its upper end and communicating with said housing opening for feeding crystals to said rotor, and a nozzle on said discharge end having a constricted throat closely adjacent to said rotor housing and to said'trough upper end.

8. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a casing having an outlet end, a driving motor in said casing having a motor shaft extending into said outlet end, a rotor provided with blades on said shaft extension, a housing shield around said rotor and having its discharge side open, means cooperating with said housing shield to form a trough at the inlet side of the ,rotor and communicating therewith, the upper end of said trough being open and terminating at the outer edge of said housing shield, means for selectively feeding crystals into said trough, and a nozzle on the outlet end of the casing having a constricted throat closely surrounding said housing shield.

9. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a detachably connected to said outlet end with the storage container thereof communicating with said pulverizing means for feeding crystals to said pulverizing means for being discharged from the nozzle in a pulverized condition.

10. Suction cleaner blower construction adapted for discharging pulverized material, including a housing having an outlet end, a driving motor in said housing having a motor shaft projecting into said outlet end, crystal pulverizing means on said motor shaft projection, a discharge nozzle detachably connected to said outlet end of said housing and having a constricted throat closely surrounding said pulverizing means, and a crystal storage container on said nozzle having an opening adjacent to said throat and communicating with said pulverizing means for supplying crystals to said pulverizing means within said constricted throat.

11. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an inlet end and an outlet end and a motor between the ends having a shaft, means mounted on said motor shaft for pulverizing crystals, and a crystal storage container having a valve controlled discharge openingdetachably mounted on said outlet end with the discharge opening communicating with said pulverizing means for supplying crystals directly to said pulverizing means.

12. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having an inlet and an outlet end and a motor between the ends, means for pulverizing crystals operatively connected with said motor and located at said outlet end, and a discharge nozzle on said outlet end formed with a crystal storage container having an outlet opening located close to and communicating with said pulverizing means for supplying crystals directly to said pulverizing means.

13. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having a discharge end, a motor, and an exhaust tan driven by said motor for blowing an air blast out of said discharge end, crystal pulverizing means at said discharge end driven by said motor for pulverizing crystals and delivering the pulverized crystals into the air blast issuing from said discharge end.

14. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having a discharge end, a motor, and an exhaust fan driven by said motor for blowing an air blast out of said discharge end, crystal pulverizing means at said discharge end driven by said motor for pulverizing crystals and delivering the pulverized crystals into the air blast issuing from said discharge end, and a crystal storage container on said discharge end for supplying crystals to said pulverizing means.

15. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having a discharge end, a motor, and an exhaust fan driven by said motor for blowing an air blast out of said discharge end, pulverizing means at said discharge end driven by said motor for pulverizing crystals and introducing the pulverized material into the air blast issuing from said discharge end, a discharge nozzle on said discharge end surrounding said pulverizing means, and a crystal storage container on said discharge nozzle for supplying crystals to said pulverizing means.

16. In suction cleaner blower apparatus having a discharge end, a motor, and an exhaust fan driven by said motor for blowing an air blast out of said discharge end, crystal pulverizing means at said discharge end driven by said motor, and a combined crystal storage container and discharge nozzle detachably connected to said discharge end for feeding crystals to said pulverizing means for being delivered as -pulverized material into the air blast issuing from said discharge end.

EUGENE F. MARTINET. 

